Welcome to the actual unveiling of the 2012 TWB 100. We've already gone over the rules, the procedures, the voting process, the unveiling of the voters, and the listing of the honorable mentions. Enough introduction, let's get into this thing, aight?
100. Adam Pearce
Points: 498
Ballots: 7
Highest Vote: 9th Place (Jamie Dobson)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
99. Drew Gulak
Points:506
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 25th Place (Collin Borrell, John Rosenberger)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: I didn't catch a lot of Gulak inside of his main run in CZW. However, I've seen enough of him in Beyond Wrestling and in the Wrestling Is… promotions to know what I get from him. He's got a solid technical base who's not afraid to get stiff whose second gear is based in raw emotion and passion rather than the normal "Hey, we're losing the crowd, LET'S HIT ALL THE HIGH SPOTS." I can't wait to see more of him in 2013.
Alex Torres: Perhaps one of the best technical wrestlers on the independent scene, a man who's versatility has made him indispensable- he'd also had one of the best matches of the year, a death match at that. Drew Gulak could put on many faces and excel in all of them, as shown by the strength of his work in both CZW and Beyond Wrestling. I've seen him tear it up with guys like Mark Angel and Biff Busick, and then turn around and go through wars with Danny Havoc… and then show off a more comedic side with the Gentleman's club. There's little he can't do.
John Rosenberger: I talk a lot of shit about how little I care about CZW. Mostly that comes from being told over and over about how awesome CZW is and not really being that impressed by it. That being said, I really appreciate a wrestler like Drew Gulak who can work with such a style that he can fit in to the ultra-violent world of CZW and then turn right back around and work in the extremely family friendly and magical world of the Wrestling Is…. Universe. A strong, athletic wrestler who isn’t afraid to be on the receiving end of a big spot and sometimes puts himself out there a little more than he should. All that and being able to work some aerial stuff in to his matches without making it look like he’s trying really hard to do so.
98. Player Uno
Points: 532
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 29th Place (Dave Musgrave)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: Uno, along with his partner Player Dos/Stupefied, broke out huge in 2012, especially in DGUSA and PWG. Their performances in PWG were the stuff of legends. Uno was more of the grounded one, the one who threw his fists and dropped the big bombs. He also had a dark side, one that only broke out when the Young Bucks would really tick him off in PWG, to which the crowd would chant "EVIL UNO! EVIL UNO!" His reactions to those chants made all the difference between good wrestling and masterful storytelling.
97. The Miz
Points: 544
Ballots: 9
Highest Vote: 14th Place (George Murphy)
Last Year's Placement: 12th Place
Scott Holland: I'll admit to being a biased Miz fan as I do go way back to his days of trying to get on the Real World season 10, and especially so during his dominant run on the "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" seasons. He's earned a lot of his criticism, but he's also a kid like me who grew up in the Midwest and loved pro wrestling and dreamed of one day becoming the champ — except he actually made it happen. That said, 2013 was not his best year in the ring, but he lasted 45-plus minutes in the Royal Rumble and had a handful of good but not great matches. I guess I placed him where I did because he's not the worst in-ring talent on the roster. Damning with faint praise, sure, but I watch what I watch and I like what I like. Art is subjective.
96. Drake Younger
Points: 546
Ballots: 9
Highest Vote: 8th Place (Alex Torres)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
Alex Torres: Drake Younger's 2012 has been a powerful journey to be able to watch, one that made him one of the best wrestlers of the year. A resolution to clean up his life led to him getting in the best shape of his life, and it has led to a renaissance for Younger, delivering some of his strongest matches, including wars with Sami Callihan, B-Boy, Rickey Shane Page, Roderick Strong, and MASADA, peaking with an awe inspiring Iron Man with Sami Callihan.
Moving out to Los Angeles and finding another home with PWG turned out to be a great move for him, allowing him to show audiences what the Combat Zone faithful already knew: that Younger is one of the most well rounded wrestlers in the world, able to deliver with a wide variety of opponents. An inspiration, in ring and out.
95. Joseph Park/Abyss
Points: 556
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 9th Place (Cewsh)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
Cewsh: What makes someone a great wrestler? Is it moves or technical ability or whatever people general think of it as? Or can someone be a great wrestler by being bad in the ring on purpose? As far as I’m concerned, Joseph Park is proof that true brilliance in a wrestling ring doesn't have to involve any moves whatsoever. The man is a walking performance art piece, and he stole virtually every show he appeared on in 2012. Sounds like greatness to me.
Ryan Kilma: Joseph Park has been the MVP of TNA this year. Hell, he’s probably the MVP of Spike TV (sorry, Mr. Schmo).
94. Masada
Points: 557
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 7th Place (Jerome Cusson)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
Alex Torres: In a time when invasion angles were rampant, people thought CZW would run one too… and it looked that way, until the show ended with their champion, Masada, squashing the invasion. Because this story is about the sheriff, a man who has been undefeated in the Combat Zone, rather than about the invaders. Masada is the best booked of any champion in 2012, a man who conquered CZW, beating the likes of Drake Younger, El Generico, Necro Butcher, Michael Elgin, and Davey Richards. Masada was put in a role to shine, and shine he did.
93.Akira Tozawa
Points: 557 (ranked ahead of Masada because of better high vote)
Ballots: 7
Highest Vote: 3rd Place (Jamie Dobson)
Last Year's Placement: 33rd Place
92. Jimmy Jacobs
Points: 561
Ballots: 13
Highest Vote: 24th Place (Jay Sanudo)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH:Jacobs burst into the year wearing his old Age of the Fall jacket and going full sadist against Kevin Steen at the ROH Anniversary show and didn't really look back. He was one of the better parts of ROH as part of a really fun SCUM team, and he had a nice run in Midwest indies, especially AAW, where he had a fun but intense brawl with Arik Cannon and Silas Young for their title.
91. Stupefied/Player Dos/"The Emperor" Stu Grayson
Points: 562
Ballots: 9
Highest Vote: 16th Place (Tim Bridges)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: Stupefied has a terrible name, but damn, he's a fine wrestler. He's one of the best high flyers on the scene right now, a guy who has a nifty handle on when to hit the opportune dive or to put a climax on a big match. He put the coup de grace on both major three-way tag matches from PWG's early summer shows, Death to All but Metal and Threemendous III. Plus, the dude takes bumps, man. Bumps.
90. Saraya Knight
Points: 563
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 4th Place (Martin Bentley)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: I placed Knight near the bottom of my ballot, because she showed flashes of being good in the matches I saw of hers last year. It didn't help that the first set of SHIMMER tapings were set up just to have her squash hapless opponents, but she did so with vigor and intensity, which is all you can ask for in a tyrannical heel. However, she made the list for the Cheerleader Melissa match at Vol. 48. It was one of the best brawls of the year, and Knight worked it perfectly for the sadist that she was.
Eamon Paton: Anytime the Shimmer champion Saraya Knight is speaking to the masses on the microphone or beating the hell out of someone in the ring, I get one thing from it all and that is sincerity. Her anger and intensity comes off as so real and so true, that you get lost in it all and at times fear for your own life. Not many wrestlers now a days hold that kind of power. Sweet Saraya knows how to wield it and that is the main reason that 2012 has been her year.
Jennifer Logsdon: The shock of the year was when she made Cheerleader Melissa tap out and became the 5th SHIMMER Champion. By hook and by crook she kept hold of the belt the rest of the year. Proving age is nothing but a number. I initially called her a force of nature in 2011 - now she's the demon of SHIMMER.
89. Christian
Points: 564
Ballots: 11
Highest Vote: 10th Place (Mike Germano)
Last Year's Placement: 8th Place
88. Mia Yim
Points: 568
Ballots: 10
Highest Vote: 8th Place (Jennifer Logsdon)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: She'll be known in 2012 for busting up Allysin Kay's nose, but she had fine matches all around the Northeast and Midwest indies for various companies, including JAPW, AIW, ROH, and SHIMMER. Her tilt against Kay in the cage at Girls Night Out 7 was one of the finest matches of that type all year. Plus, she should be commended in that match for getting herself locked in the triangle choke on the side of the cage.
Ryan Kilma: Made Greg Excellent, for one night of his life, look excellent.
Shawn Duckett: Mia Yim has come a long way from being Prince Nana’s arm candy in ROH. She has made quite a name for herself on the Independent circuit in 2012. Her series of matches against Allysin Kay in AIW were awesome. Mia can do it all. Whether she is exchanging holds with Sara Del Rey, brawling with Allysin Kay, or power bombing Greg Excellent off a ladder and though a table, Mia is always is a joy to watch. There big things in store in this young lady’s wrestling career.
87. Cheerleader Melissa
Points: 571
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 14th Place (Ryan Kilma)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: I didn't catch a lot of Melissa on tape this year, but what I did catch was good enough to get her on the ballot, even if at the tail end. The first three matches of the spring SHIMMER tapings had heavy angling on them, but the action was still good, especially on the Nicole Matthews defense. Her best performance was by far as a wounded warrior against Saraya Knight.
86. Jay Lethal
Points: 576
Ballots: 11
Highest Vote: 12th Place (Jerome Cusson)
Last Year's Placement: 64th Place
85. The Shard
Points: 585
Ballots: 10
Highest Vote: 10th Place (De O'Brien)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
Philip Rosenbaum: There's a reason that this compact powerhouse, originally arriving as the opposite number of Jigsaw, is the only remaining rudo from Gekido at the beginning of 2013 and is now teaming with the wrestling enigma. Taken at a glance, The Shard would appear to be a muscle-toned version of Frightmare, if you are strictly comparing builds. However, he really proved himself inside the ring in 2012, showcasing a style that was decidedly more power-based than the typical lucha offense. This set him apart, and led him to a deceptively strong 2012.
84. Rich Swann
Points: 598
Ballots: 12
Highest Vote: 7th Place (Jamie Dobson)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: Swann is part of a new breed of smart high flyers who can do mindbending things in the ring but never seem to lose grasp of the psychology of a match. He's a guy who works well in tags with various partners, gets the hang of multi-man matches, and knows how to make the other guy in singles matches look good before he busts out his jaw-dropping moves that make him look like the baddest motherfucker on the planet. His standing 450 splash needs to be seen by everyone.
Typical ROH Fan: The same can be said for Swann that was said for AR Fox. Rich Swann impresses me more and I think he's one of the most entertaining wrestlers around. His PWG debut also provided some great matches. Keep in mind he is only 22 years old! (Favorite 2012 match: vs. El Generico at PWG Mystery Vortex)
83. Mike Bennett
Points: 605
Ballots: 12
Highest Vote: 22nd Place (Drew Smith)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
Dylan Hales: I hate ROH. I mean I really hate it. I want to like it, but there just isn't anyone there I find interesting. I hate Chikara. I mean I really hate it. I want to like it because Tom Holzerman and Dave Musgrave like it and those are two of my best wrestling buds, but I just don't like the "hipster comedy jam" stuff. So while Mike Bennett did not finish SUPER high on my list, he did pretty well for a guy that really didn't have a single match I thought was great. Because you see Mike Bennett had me enjoying myself while watching ROH and Chikara. He was the star of ROH TV every time I saw him and along with the Young Bucks was easily the best thing about King of Trios. I like Mike Bennett. I mean I really like Mike Bennett. I don't want to like him, because he's got a kind of bland look and seems generic on paper. But the guy can play the cocky asshole heel better than damn near anyone on the modern indie scene and that goes a long way with me.
82. Portia Perez
Points: 629
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 4th Place (Lee Spriggs)
Last Year's Placement: 72nd Place
TH: Portia Perez was one of the hardest working wrestlers on the planet last year, working promotions across the entire continent, and usually leaving as one of the most memorable performers of the evening. She began her year with an epic encounter against Robert Evans, in the wake of which set her on a path that at least I had never seen her blaze before, a good guy. She proved that alignment wasn't as big a stumbling block for her in the ring, as she was able to trade in chokeholds and cheap shots for playing face in peril and bringing fire in her comebacks just as well as anyone. Of course, those who wanted their fill of Evil Portia got it elsewhere, but that's only a testament of how good Perez is.
Eamon Paton: I look at Portia Perez and while she at times is involved in nefarious antics and takes her liberties with the pro wrestling rulebook, I see an amazing role model, especially for young females. She exudes dedication and hard work, and is one of the many females on the independents who try to break away from what a traditional female performer is expected to do. She’s traveled the globe and put on some amazing pro wrestling matches that can be held up against any male counterpart, and is an asset for any company that wants to put on serious pro wrestling without gender restrictions.
Jennifer Logsdon: The ultimate heel. Devious. Arrogant. Clever. Athletic. The ultimate heel and the ultimate performer.
Lee Spriggs: I'm not sure there's any wrestler who's more adept at being a heel. She's a real craftsman in that sense, and she would be on my list because of those skills. But what brings her so high up on my list is, like Robert Evans, her work in ACW. The difference between her and Evans, to my mind, is that she hasn't really blossomed as fully as a character in other promotions. It's only in ACW (and Shimmer, to be fair) where it feels like she hasn't had to tone down her style and skills to the caliber of woman's wrestler that some other places offer her. But it's really only in ACW where she's been able to show the other side of her personality, a character who has suffered damage in the past, but who has been given a chance to try and atone. Much of that story has been outside of the ring, but the character beats inside of the ring (in particular at GBA 6 and Nothing is as Real as a Dream) speak volumes.
Also, her superkick is one of my favorites in all of wrestling, so she's got that going for her as well.
81. Justin Gabriel
Points: 630
Ballots: 13
Highest Vote: 21st Place (Mike Germano, Chris McDonald)
Last Year's Placement: 79th Place
TH: Gabriel may not be the poster child for WWE's lack of institutional depth, but he's at least in the background, ready to bash down the doors. Back when Superstars was readily available on the website, Gabriel was putting on entertaining sprints, most notably with his eventual tag partner Tyson Kidd. When he got the chance to show what he had in his satchel with a highly entertaining series of matches with Antonio Cesaro in the fall, he showed he's ready for prime time too. I'm not sure what WWE's MO with this guy is, but whenever he turns up on camera, he at least provides something watchable and enjoyable.
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| Did Pearce just go low on Adam Cole? Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 498
Ballots: 7
Highest Vote: 9th Place (Jamie Dobson)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
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| Gulak has no patience for Greg Excellent Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points:506
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 25th Place (Collin Borrell, John Rosenberger)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: I didn't catch a lot of Gulak inside of his main run in CZW. However, I've seen enough of him in Beyond Wrestling and in the Wrestling Is… promotions to know what I get from him. He's got a solid technical base who's not afraid to get stiff whose second gear is based in raw emotion and passion rather than the normal "Hey, we're losing the crowd, LET'S HIT ALL THE HIGH SPOTS." I can't wait to see more of him in 2013.
Alex Torres: Perhaps one of the best technical wrestlers on the independent scene, a man who's versatility has made him indispensable- he'd also had one of the best matches of the year, a death match at that. Drew Gulak could put on many faces and excel in all of them, as shown by the strength of his work in both CZW and Beyond Wrestling. I've seen him tear it up with guys like Mark Angel and Biff Busick, and then turn around and go through wars with Danny Havoc… and then show off a more comedic side with the Gentleman's club. There's little he can't do.
John Rosenberger: I talk a lot of shit about how little I care about CZW. Mostly that comes from being told over and over about how awesome CZW is and not really being that impressed by it. That being said, I really appreciate a wrestler like Drew Gulak who can work with such a style that he can fit in to the ultra-violent world of CZW and then turn right back around and work in the extremely family friendly and magical world of the Wrestling Is…. Universe. A strong, athletic wrestler who isn’t afraid to be on the receiving end of a big spot and sometimes puts himself out there a little more than he should. All that and being able to work some aerial stuff in to his matches without making it look like he’s trying really hard to do so.
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| Player Uno shows off his top wristlock on Rich Swann Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 532
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 29th Place (Dave Musgrave)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: Uno, along with his partner Player Dos/Stupefied, broke out huge in 2012, especially in DGUSA and PWG. Their performances in PWG were the stuff of legends. Uno was more of the grounded one, the one who threw his fists and dropped the big bombs. He also had a dark side, one that only broke out when the Young Bucks would really tick him off in PWG, to which the crowd would chant "EVIL UNO! EVIL UNO!" His reactions to those chants made all the difference between good wrestling and masterful storytelling.
 |
| Miz sizing up David Otunga for the Skull Crushing Finale Photo Credit: WWE.com |
Points: 544
Ballots: 9
Highest Vote: 14th Place (George Murphy)
Last Year's Placement: 12th Place
Scott Holland: I'll admit to being a biased Miz fan as I do go way back to his days of trying to get on the Real World season 10, and especially so during his dominant run on the "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" seasons. He's earned a lot of his criticism, but he's also a kid like me who grew up in the Midwest and loved pro wrestling and dreamed of one day becoming the champ — except he actually made it happen. That said, 2013 was not his best year in the ring, but he lasted 45-plus minutes in the Royal Rumble and had a handful of good but not great matches. I guess I placed him where I did because he's not the worst in-ring talent on the roster. Damning with faint praise, sure, but I watch what I watch and I like what I like. Art is subjective.
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| Younger gives no fucks what happens to Masada here Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 546
Ballots: 9
Highest Vote: 8th Place (Alex Torres)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
Alex Torres: Drake Younger's 2012 has been a powerful journey to be able to watch, one that made him one of the best wrestlers of the year. A resolution to clean up his life led to him getting in the best shape of his life, and it has led to a renaissance for Younger, delivering some of his strongest matches, including wars with Sami Callihan, B-Boy, Rickey Shane Page, Roderick Strong, and MASADA, peaking with an awe inspiring Iron Man with Sami Callihan.
Moving out to Los Angeles and finding another home with PWG turned out to be a great move for him, allowing him to show audiences what the Combat Zone faithful already knew: that Younger is one of the most well rounded wrestlers in the world, able to deliver with a wide variety of opponents. An inspiration, in ring and out.
 |
| Park oughtta watch where he's swinging that thing Photo Credit: ImpactWrestling.com |
Points: 556
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 9th Place (Cewsh)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
Cewsh: What makes someone a great wrestler? Is it moves or technical ability or whatever people general think of it as? Or can someone be a great wrestler by being bad in the ring on purpose? As far as I’m concerned, Joseph Park is proof that true brilliance in a wrestling ring doesn't have to involve any moves whatsoever. The man is a walking performance art piece, and he stole virtually every show he appeared on in 2012. Sounds like greatness to me.
Ryan Kilma: Joseph Park has been the MVP of TNA this year. Hell, he’s probably the MVP of Spike TV (sorry, Mr. Schmo).
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| Masada locking Younger in a crossface Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 557
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 7th Place (Jerome Cusson)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
Alex Torres: In a time when invasion angles were rampant, people thought CZW would run one too… and it looked that way, until the show ended with their champion, Masada, squashing the invasion. Because this story is about the sheriff, a man who has been undefeated in the Combat Zone, rather than about the invaders. Masada is the best booked of any champion in 2012, a man who conquered CZW, beating the likes of Drake Younger, El Generico, Necro Butcher, Michael Elgin, and Davey Richards. Masada was put in a role to shine, and shine he did.
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| Tozawa taking Samuray del Sol to Everest (German) Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 557 (ranked ahead of Masada because of better high vote)
Ballots: 7
Highest Vote: 3rd Place (Jamie Dobson)
Last Year's Placement: 33rd Place
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| Jacobs dragging Kevin Steen through the crowd whether he likes it or not Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 561
Ballots: 13
Highest Vote: 24th Place (Jay Sanudo)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH:Jacobs burst into the year wearing his old Age of the Fall jacket and going full sadist against Kevin Steen at the ROH Anniversary show and didn't really look back. He was one of the better parts of ROH as part of a really fun SCUM team, and he had a nice run in Midwest indies, especially AAW, where he had a fun but intense brawl with Arik Cannon and Silas Young for their title.
 |
| Double Peles from Stupefied Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 562
Ballots: 9
Highest Vote: 16th Place (Tim Bridges)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: Stupefied has a terrible name, but damn, he's a fine wrestler. He's one of the best high flyers on the scene right now, a guy who has a nifty handle on when to hit the opportune dive or to put a climax on a big match. He put the coup de grace on both major three-way tag matches from PWG's early summer shows, Death to All but Metal and Threemendous III. Plus, the dude takes bumps, man. Bumps.
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| Knight not even letting Hiroyo Matsumoto get up for air Photo Credit: Gregory Davis/DDS |
Points: 563
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 4th Place (Martin Bentley)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: I placed Knight near the bottom of my ballot, because she showed flashes of being good in the matches I saw of hers last year. It didn't help that the first set of SHIMMER tapings were set up just to have her squash hapless opponents, but she did so with vigor and intensity, which is all you can ask for in a tyrannical heel. However, she made the list for the Cheerleader Melissa match at Vol. 48. It was one of the best brawls of the year, and Knight worked it perfectly for the sadist that she was.
Eamon Paton: Anytime the Shimmer champion Saraya Knight is speaking to the masses on the microphone or beating the hell out of someone in the ring, I get one thing from it all and that is sincerity. Her anger and intensity comes off as so real and so true, that you get lost in it all and at times fear for your own life. Not many wrestlers now a days hold that kind of power. Sweet Saraya knows how to wield it and that is the main reason that 2012 has been her year.
Jennifer Logsdon: The shock of the year was when she made Cheerleader Melissa tap out and became the 5th SHIMMER Champion. By hook and by crook she kept hold of the belt the rest of the year. Proving age is nothing but a number. I initially called her a force of nature in 2011 - now she's the demon of SHIMMER.
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| Christian crashing into Alberto del Rio with a flying body press Photo Credit: WWE.com |
Points: 564
Ballots: 11
Highest Vote: 10th Place (Mike Germano)
Last Year's Placement: 8th Place
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| Yim about to give Darin Childs a severe case of sock-jaw Photo Credit: Texas Anarchy |
Points: 568
Ballots: 10
Highest Vote: 8th Place (Jennifer Logsdon)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: She'll be known in 2012 for busting up Allysin Kay's nose, but she had fine matches all around the Northeast and Midwest indies for various companies, including JAPW, AIW, ROH, and SHIMMER. Her tilt against Kay in the cage at Girls Night Out 7 was one of the finest matches of that type all year. Plus, she should be commended in that match for getting herself locked in the triangle choke on the side of the cage.
Ryan Kilma: Made Greg Excellent, for one night of his life, look excellent.
Shawn Duckett: Mia Yim has come a long way from being Prince Nana’s arm candy in ROH. She has made quite a name for herself on the Independent circuit in 2012. Her series of matches against Allysin Kay in AIW were awesome. Mia can do it all. Whether she is exchanging holds with Sara Del Rey, brawling with Allysin Kay, or power bombing Greg Excellent off a ladder and though a table, Mia is always is a joy to watch. There big things in store in this young lady’s wrestling career.
 |
| Melissa ready to put Portia Perez away with the Air Raid Crash Photo Credit: Gregory Davis/DDS |
Points: 571
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 14th Place (Ryan Kilma)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: I didn't catch a lot of Melissa on tape this year, but what I did catch was good enough to get her on the ballot, even if at the tail end. The first three matches of the spring SHIMMER tapings had heavy angling on them, but the action was still good, especially on the Nicole Matthews defense. Her best performance was by far as a wounded warrior against Saraya Knight.
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| Lethal giving Davey Richards a backbreaker Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 576
Ballots: 11
Highest Vote: 12th Place (Jerome Cusson)
Last Year's Placement: 64th Place
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| Shard wrenching on FIre Ant's ankle Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 585
Ballots: 10
Highest Vote: 10th Place (De O'Brien)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
Philip Rosenbaum: There's a reason that this compact powerhouse, originally arriving as the opposite number of Jigsaw, is the only remaining rudo from Gekido at the beginning of 2013 and is now teaming with the wrestling enigma. Taken at a glance, The Shard would appear to be a muscle-toned version of Frightmare, if you are strictly comparing builds. However, he really proved himself inside the ring in 2012, showcasing a style that was decidedly more power-based than the typical lucha offense. This set him apart, and led him to a deceptively strong 2012.
 |
| Swann setting up Jigsaw on the outside Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 598
Ballots: 12
Highest Vote: 7th Place (Jamie Dobson)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
TH: Swann is part of a new breed of smart high flyers who can do mindbending things in the ring but never seem to lose grasp of the psychology of a match. He's a guy who works well in tags with various partners, gets the hang of multi-man matches, and knows how to make the other guy in singles matches look good before he busts out his jaw-dropping moves that make him look like the baddest motherfucker on the planet. His standing 450 splash needs to be seen by everyone.
Typical ROH Fan: The same can be said for Swann that was said for AR Fox. Rich Swann impresses me more and I think he's one of the most entertaining wrestlers around. His PWG debut also provided some great matches. Keep in mind he is only 22 years old! (Favorite 2012 match: vs. El Generico at PWG Mystery Vortex)
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| Bennett, along with the Young Bucks, giving Meiko Satomura a triple shot of sole Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Points: 605
Ballots: 12
Highest Vote: 22nd Place (Drew Smith)
Last Year's Placement: Not ranked
Dylan Hales: I hate ROH. I mean I really hate it. I want to like it, but there just isn't anyone there I find interesting. I hate Chikara. I mean I really hate it. I want to like it because Tom Holzerman and Dave Musgrave like it and those are two of my best wrestling buds, but I just don't like the "hipster comedy jam" stuff. So while Mike Bennett did not finish SUPER high on my list, he did pretty well for a guy that really didn't have a single match I thought was great. Because you see Mike Bennett had me enjoying myself while watching ROH and Chikara. He was the star of ROH TV every time I saw him and along with the Young Bucks was easily the best thing about King of Trios. I like Mike Bennett. I mean I really like Mike Bennett. I don't want to like him, because he's got a kind of bland look and seems generic on paper. But the guy can play the cocky asshole heel better than damn near anyone on the modern indie scene and that goes a long way with me.
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| Perez wrenching the neck of Robert Evans Photo Credit: Texas Anarchy |
Points: 629
Ballots: 8
Highest Vote: 4th Place (Lee Spriggs)
Last Year's Placement: 72nd Place
TH: Portia Perez was one of the hardest working wrestlers on the planet last year, working promotions across the entire continent, and usually leaving as one of the most memorable performers of the evening. She began her year with an epic encounter against Robert Evans, in the wake of which set her on a path that at least I had never seen her blaze before, a good guy. She proved that alignment wasn't as big a stumbling block for her in the ring, as she was able to trade in chokeholds and cheap shots for playing face in peril and bringing fire in her comebacks just as well as anyone. Of course, those who wanted their fill of Evil Portia got it elsewhere, but that's only a testament of how good Perez is.
Eamon Paton: I look at Portia Perez and while she at times is involved in nefarious antics and takes her liberties with the pro wrestling rulebook, I see an amazing role model, especially for young females. She exudes dedication and hard work, and is one of the many females on the independents who try to break away from what a traditional female performer is expected to do. She’s traveled the globe and put on some amazing pro wrestling matches that can be held up against any male counterpart, and is an asset for any company that wants to put on serious pro wrestling without gender restrictions.
Jennifer Logsdon: The ultimate heel. Devious. Arrogant. Clever. Athletic. The ultimate heel and the ultimate performer.
Lee Spriggs: I'm not sure there's any wrestler who's more adept at being a heel. She's a real craftsman in that sense, and she would be on my list because of those skills. But what brings her so high up on my list is, like Robert Evans, her work in ACW. The difference between her and Evans, to my mind, is that she hasn't really blossomed as fully as a character in other promotions. It's only in ACW (and Shimmer, to be fair) where it feels like she hasn't had to tone down her style and skills to the caliber of woman's wrestler that some other places offer her. But it's really only in ACW where she's been able to show the other side of her personality, a character who has suffered damage in the past, but who has been given a chance to try and atone. Much of that story has been outside of the ring, but the character beats inside of the ring (in particular at GBA 6 and Nothing is as Real as a Dream) speak volumes.
Also, her superkick is one of my favorites in all of wrestling, so she's got that going for her as well.
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| Gabriel tossing R-Truth over the top rope Photo Credit: WWE.com |
Points: 630
Ballots: 13
Highest Vote: 21st Place (Mike Germano, Chris McDonald)
Last Year's Placement: 79th Place
TH: Gabriel may not be the poster child for WWE's lack of institutional depth, but he's at least in the background, ready to bash down the doors. Back when Superstars was readily available on the website, Gabriel was putting on entertaining sprints, most notably with his eventual tag partner Tyson Kidd. When he got the chance to show what he had in his satchel with a highly entertaining series of matches with Antonio Cesaro in the fall, he showed he's ready for prime time too. I'm not sure what WWE's MO with this guy is, but whenever he turns up on camera, he at least provides something watchable and enjoyable.
